79VetteNoob

So after nearly a year of talking about it I took the first step today. Pulled the worn out underpowered 350 and TH350 (off to be rebuilt). Took about 4.5 hours, had ALOT of help from a buddy who has a badass garage set up and years of experience. Plan on cleaning up the engine bay and frame over the next month or so then I'm going to drop a 383 in, currently planning on buying the dressed out BP 430hp 383 (http://www.blueprintengines.com/inde...ed-bp38313ctc1) going with that model because I want the roller cam and aluminum heads. Not to mention I have been pretty impressed with what I've seen and heard about BP engine customer service and engine performance. Enough talking, here are some pictures from today. I'll keep them coming as I make progress, enjoy !


https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/...61984209_n.jpg

MrJlr

That's awesome!

Good stuff! I love watching 35 year old engine pulls!
You'll love that 383 - I have the same one
Pulls like a freight train!

Cleaning up the engine bay is wayyyy less than fun

I'll be following this thread! Keep us posted!

mrscott25

Double check with BP that the fully dressed model will fit under your stock hood. I called them about a month ago with that question and got a wishy washy answer. In fairness, the customer service guy was trying hard to be helpful but did not have solid info to indicate one way or the other. I asked for measurements of the intake they put on but he didn't have it either. Obviously the long block will work, but you won't want to spend the bucks on the fully dressed version if you have to throw the intake out to make it work.

Maybe someone else has ordered the fully dressed model and can confirm how it fits???

Don't want to hijack, just don't want you to buy the dressed model if the top end doesn't fit.

MrJlr

He will likely have to change the intake manifold but that's all.

79VetteNoob

Thanks for the heads up, I read an article earlier about someone installing the engine and buying a Tall l88 hood to compensate... Hoping to avoid that though as it will be outside of my budget. I'll be sure and double check before pulling the trigger

Dustup7T2

Off to a great start. Besides the fresh monster to install, what other plans fit in with this chapter of the cars existence?

Suspension work? Rear axle? Transmission?

Nice project and nice to have good friends to share the load.

79VetteNoob

Thanks! I had the rear end rebuilt around a year ago, the front end bushings still need to be replaced. I would like to try and knock that out but im not sure where to start or how involved it will be, that will most likely be my next project.
The rear axle will be left un-molested for the forseeable future.
Andd the transmission has been sent off for a rebuild/shift kit, should be back later this week. I also plan on doing as much frame cleaning/painting as possible with the body still on while ive got the motor/tranny out.
I'd like to go all in and do a frame off then blast and coat everything but I'm not sure im ready for that!

Crafty12

Hoping that mine goes as smoothly on Friday. I'm not pulling the trans, and since this pic I've pulled off the fuel pump and exhaust manifolds. That should be safely under 1/2 ton right?

MrJlr

Yes.....stripped down, the shipping weight was under 500 lbs. from Blueprint

What engine are you going with?

79VetteNoob

[QUOTE=Crafty12;1586655837] Hoping that mine goes as smoothly on Friday. I'm not pulling the trans, and since this pic I've pulled off the fuel pump and exhaust manifolds. That should be safely under 1/2 ton right?

Yea I believe iron head 350 are around 800lbs, you should be good to go with a little room to spare! Good luck! Looking forward to your thread. What engine are you putting in?

Crafty12

It's actually a numbers matching 70 LT-1, so I'm just rebuilding the one that's in there. And repainting

79VetteNoob

Well I said I would post as I go, its been raining a bit and I've not had a ton of time to work on anything but I spent around 1.5hours cleaning this single cross bar up. Jeff you weren't kidding when you said it would take patience!


My goal is to have everything that clean before I get this new engine in. I'm debating whether or not I want to paint it and everything else I clean... Currently it has a coat of WD-40 on it. Got my old engine back in the garage today and started pulling it apart for salvageable parts. Here's a before and a few afters. Like I said I have not made a ton of progress, but its a start. Not to mention there is a long weekend coming up!


Looks like I may be cleaning more than just car parts this weekend....

MrJlr

Looks good

Sure is a ton of work!!!!!!!!! I'd clean everything first THEN paint.

Thanks for the update!
Keep them coming

stingraymax

Looking good, I was also looking at that engine. will be following to see how it runs.
What are you doing with the old engine parts ?

cue487023

Got my BluePrint Engines 383 base engine a while ago (imported to Australia) and have been slowly building it up. Added the Edelbrock air gap manifold and carby. Getting an L88 style scoop glassed on as I am pretty sure it won't fit under the stock hood. Good luck with your install!

[IMG][/IMG]

MrJlr

79VetteNoob - did you order your engine yet?!!!!!

0BluePrint Engines

MrScott25,

You are right the intake manifold that we use on our fully dressed engines will not work with a stock Corvette hood. The measurements on the intake we use are, 4 3/8" on the front, 5 1/2" in the rear, & 5 1/8" on the center carb pad. Thank you everyone for using BluePrint Enignes and if you have any specific questions about our engines please feel free to shoot me a PM and let me know. Also we love seeing updates of where & what applications our engines go into, keep them coming!

Thanks,

Andrew Obermeier
BluePrint Engines
Product Specialist

MrJlr

I love my BP 383 so far!
There about 4 other people here installing them or about to pull the trigger.

I think that intake WILL be too tall...but that's a minor change.

CaseyJones

I put a BP 355 in my '80. I't giving me great service after over 30K miles so far. With the cam and intake/exhaust bits I'm running it is going very well. Very satisfied!

79VetteNoob

CaseyJones that is great to hear man, that's the most miles I've heard of anyone reporting on one of those engines, makes me feel that much more confident!

cue487023 That is a great looking engine ! Looks like you've done a LOT of work with your vette looks amazing. I love the l88 hood, in the next year or so when I do a paintjob I plan on buying one from eklers. Where are you getting yours? Do you have a thread going somewhere ?

Jeff, I have not bought one yet, still waiting till I'm a littler closer to the install. Don't want it sitting around in my garage losing days off of the warranty! Haha

Blueprint rep- that's for your response, I called and spoke with a tech rep and they told me that there is a shorter manifold that can be added to my 383 for ~100$ that will fit under the stock hood. I was told the dyno results & warrenty will be the same. After seeing Cue's setup though I may just go with the base and add some shiney things....

Time for my update. I spent about 4 hours working on vette parts today. I got most of my brackets cleaned and painted, Drive shaft cleaned and painted, a sending unit of some sort... Maybe cooling? Not sure take a look and let me know, and broke down my engine a little more. I got ahold of some wax/grease remover from Orileys that has helped ALOT put it on a sponge and went to work. I suggest anyone trying to clean old parts give it a try, it has literally changed my world hahaha.

Crossarm ready for paint


Dirty old driveshaft and brackets


Crossarm and brackets drying out


Driveshaft nearly ready for paint
By the way it looks like I lost one of my Ujoint caps... Does anyone know where you can buy them individually?

Dirty XXX Sending unit - what is this? smells like it is an antifreeze sending unit?


Unidentified sending unit ready for paint


Everything all painted up


Gods gift to engine/parts cleaning...


Pulled the intake and pretty much everything else off of the old block. Learning ALOT pulling this thing apart. Not sure what to do with it once I've broken it down and cleaned it though....


The Vette collecting dust while it waits for its new heart


And that's a wrap for today, hopefully I'll be able to get the rest of my brackets, water sending unit, and oil sending units cleaned and painted tomorrow. I've also got a buddy coming over to help me get the hood off so I can start working on the bay, pretty damn excited. Thanks for the information and support gentlemen!